The Jaina tradition of 24 Tirthankaras seems to
have been accepted by the Hindus like the Buddhists, as could be
seen from their ancient scriptures. The Hindus, indeed, never
disputed the fact that Jainism was founded by Rsabhadeva and
placed his time almost at what they conceived to be the
commencement of the world. They acknowledged him as a divine
person. They gave the same parentage (father Nabhiraya and mother
Marudevi) of Rsabhadeva as the Jainas do and they even agree that
after the name of Rsabhadeva's eldest son Bharata this country is
Known as Bharatavarsa.

In connection with the question of derivation
of the name Bharatavarsa, it is pertinent to note that as many as
three Bharatas had been prominent in ancient India. In Ramayana,
there is one prince Bharata, the younger brother of famous king
Ramchandra, but considering his limited role, it is nowhere
mentioned that after him this country is known as Bharatavarsa.
Similarly, another prince Bharata, the son of king Dusyanta from
Sakuntala written by the celebrated poet Kalidasa. But as there
have been very few references in ancient Indian literature
relating to outstanding military and other achievements of this
Bharata, it cannot be maintained that this country's name
Bharatavarsa is derived from him. On the contrary, the well-known
prince Bharata, the eldest son of the first Jaina Tirthankara
Lord Rsabhanath, is most famous as Chakravarti i.e., Emperor
Bharata due to his great military exploits of bringing all
kingdoms in India under his rule, and that is why, India is named
Bharatavarsa after him. This fact is amply borne out by
Bhagavata, Markandeya, Vayu, Brahmanda, Skanda, Visnu and other
Hindu puranas. For example, in the Skanda-purana (chapter 37) it
is specifically stated:

Nabheh putras'-cha Rsabhah Rsabhad
Bharato'bhavat

tasya namna tvidam varsam Bharatam cheti
kirtyate.

That is, Rsabha was the son of Nabhi and Rsabha
gave birth to son Bharata and after the name of this Bharata,
this country is known Bharatavarsa.

In the Rg-veda there are clear references to
Rsabha, the 1st Tirthankara, and to Aristanemi, the 22nd
Tirthankara. The Yajur-veda also mentions the names of three
Tirthankaras, viz. Rsabha, Ajita-natha and Aristanemi. Further,
the Atharva-veda specifically mentions the sect of Vratya means
the observer of vratas or vows as distinguished from the Hindus
at those times. Similarly in the Atharva-veda the term
Maha-vratya occurs and it is supposed that this term refers to
Rsabhadeva, who could be considered as the great leader of the
Vratyas.